For the most part, critics raved about NHL 12, the latest installment in EA Sports’ popular hockey video game series. That’s great and all, but critical success doesn’t always allow companies to reap huge profits; simply look at the ratings for the defunct but beloved sitcom “Arrested Development” if you need to drive the point home.

Whether you pinpoint the reasoning based on strong word of mouth, a creative wave of marketing (including installments regarding the title’s nine legends) or the recent gains made by the sport itself, NHL 12 came charging out of the gate as far as sales are concerned. EA announced that the game broke first week records for the series, with the European version receiving a Sept. 9 release while the North American copy came out on Sept. 12.

Estimates indicate that more than 451,000 copies were sold, bringing in more than $27 million in retail. Chris Pereira of 1up.com reports that EA hopes to capitalize on this success by releasing a “free-to-play” Facebook game called NHL Superstars in October. (I have to admit I cringe a bit at the idea without knowing the details, as it makes me picture a hockey version of incessant “Farmville” updates. Hopefully it will be more promising than that, though.)

Electronic Arts has announced that NHL 12 enjoyed a “record-breaking launch.” After its release on September 13 in North America, EA’s internal figures peg it as having the biggest launch week in the franchise’s history. Sales were up 19 percent in North America and Europe (where it launched on September 9) as compared with last year, resulting in it bringing in more than $27 million at retail worldwide.

Record amounts of time was spent playing online, too; over 6.9 million online matches took place between September 13 and September 19. That’s the most during one week in the franchise’s history and 17 percent more than last year.

Hopefully those impressive figures will encourage EA Sports to maintain their aggressive (if subtle) approach to improving the NHL titles from NHL 12 to NHL 13 … although some might believe it’s hard to say what, exactly, they need to improve.